A gift of 262 special trains ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi; the general public will also benefit from fare savings—check the routes..

As the festive season approaches, the Railways offers special trains to passengers. To protect the large number of travelers heading out for Ganesh Chaturthi from the exorbitant fares charged by private bus and travel operators, the Railways has announced the operation of 262 'Ganpati Special' trains. This initiative will provide passengers with cost-effective travel options and a comfortable journey.

**Which routes will the special trains cover?**
The special trains announced for Ganesh Chaturthi are primarily aimed at improving connectivity between Pune, Mumbai, the Konkan region, Nagpur, and Goa. In terms of routes, the Railways is focusing heavily on the Sawantwadi Road sector, which will see the highest number of trips—112 in total. Additionally, 64 trips have been scheduled for the Ratnagiri route and 24 for Madgaon. Of the 262 trains, 200 are reserved services featuring AC, Sleeper, and General coaches, while 62 will be unreserved services. Operations for these special trains will commence on September 9.

**What will the fare be?**
A family of four can travel in unreserved coaches or Sleeper class on these special trains for a total cost ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹2,500. This offers a highly economical alternative for those who would otherwise spend significantly more traveling via private buses or travel agencies. Notably, while a standard bus ticket costs between ₹500 and ₹800 on regular days, prices often surge to between ₹2,500 and ₹4,000 during the festive season.

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